Camera



H. A. WHITESIDE Oct. 2l 1924.

CAMERA Filed March e.

1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Oct. 2l 1924.

H., A.l WHITESIDE CAMERA 2 sheets-snee". 2

l ENTQR ATTORNEY Patented oa. 21, 1924. i

UNITED STATES HOWARD A. WHITESIDE, OF NEW YO'RK, N. Y.

CAMERA.

Application led latch 8, 1920. Serial No. 363,959.

To allwhom 'it may' concern."

Be it knownthat I, HOWARD A. WHITE- snm, at New York, in the tain newand useful Improvements in Cameras, of which the following is a full,Iand exact description; such as will'y en-j able others skilled in theart to which it ap# clear,

pertains to make and use the same.

` vrl`his 'invention relates to' cameras, andV more particularly in someof its details to that type of camera employing a curtain shutter.

It is a further object to provide an iin-1 proved curtain `shutter whichis disposed adjacent the lens of the camera.,-

It isa further 'ob'ect to provide an irriproved means 4to .preventvfogging of the means are .therefore -not .obtainable plate while theshutter isbeing set.,

It is a further object to provide anovel automatic means for closing thediaphragm when the shutter is being ,Set and; to open` the same asth'shutter lreaches its set po? sition.

It is a .further object'to providea shutter' with improved, means'for.making adjust.

ments fordiierent characters of exposures. Itis a further object toprovidea simple,

durable and novel shutter which is inex, -pensive to manufacture andreliable in operation.

- diaphragm ofthe iristype. 40

'followingclaims Another object is to provide an improved Other objectswill bein art obvious and in part pointed out hereina ter in connection1 g operating, parts.

with the detailed description.

The invention accordii'i'gfy consistsin` the L features of construction,,combinations of .elements and arrangementfof parts which; will beexemplified .inthe construction here- *that the cated in thef 1 lel to`the front wall of the unit and'lying of tlfe apinafteriset forth', and4the sco(`pe plicatio-n of which will bein i In the accompanyi ldrawingsin which an illustrative but preferred embodimentv of the invention isshown-- Figure 1 is a side elevation of va camera unit carrying the lens'and equipped withthe invention; l, l

.Fig. 2 is a' cross-sectional view on 'the a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing' v county of New York. and State .of New York, haveinvented cer' AIt is an object of the A invention to provide improvedshutter of the class mentioned,

line 2--2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow;

' Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the

l era equipments 4now in use employing that type of shutter disposedadjacent the lens, the shutter opens first and closes last at the centerso that the. length of exposure. is not uniform overx ,the entiresensitized area of the plate. or film, and the best results by sichccordingto the improved type of shutter described in this specification,a curtain is provided with a' 'slit which is'movable adjacent the lensso that all portions `of the diaphragm opening are exposed to the lightrays lfor the same length of time, and the plate is thusevenly., exposedthroughout its area.

`1 Referring now to thedrawing for a detail description ing the lens,shutter, andcntrol` apparatus reference numeral 1 and has exterior walls1**.and an interior wall or partition 1b .spaced from onev of thewalls.1.and.form1ng a compartment. 1 for housing certain of theThis'unit which may be convenientlymounted in the camera frameis-:fitted with a double .lens having a front of the invention, the unitca rry-` y element or cell 2.n and a rear element or cell B'spaced fromeach other and arranged so refracted light raysv passing through thelens may cross in a plane paralnear the mid-position between the lenscells as indicated at 4 in Fig. 1.

Arranged so as to he in the plane 4 is a curtain shutter 5 having aslit' 6 therein, the shutter being mounted on rollers 7 and 8vrotatably' mounted in 'suitable bearings at opposite sides of theunit 1. The rol er 8 tatably mounted in the unit 1 in axial alignmentwith roller 8 and having a nurled Winding head 10, a toothed gear 11 anda ratchet Wheel 12 thereon. The ratchet Wheel 12 is adapted to beengaged by a dog 13 pivotally mounted adjacentthereto and having alaterally extending operating projection 13 extending through a slot inthe casing, this dog being adapted to lock the member 9 in adjusted,position against the tension of the spring.

In order that the operator may be apprised of the adjustment .of theroller spring an indicating "dial 14 isv provided which is operativelyconnected to the gear 11 through toothed gears 15 and 16.

The roller 7 is fitted at one end with a toothed gear 17 meshing with alarger gear 18 adapted to -be rotated by means of a nurled Winding head19,-the gear 18 having a series of inclinedteeth 20 disposed on the sidethereof forv engaging a pavvl 21 which is mounted on a spring arm 22.This spring arm is mounted on the partition 1b by means of screws 23passing through elongated slots 24 in the arm so that the latter islongitudinally adjustable, an operating pin 25 being secured thereto andextending in a slot in the Wall la for this purpose. A longitudinallymovable releasing pin 26 is also mounted in suitable bearings in thewall 1a and is adapted to be projected inwardly. to contact .spring arm22.

Mounted on the face of gear 18, as particularly shown in Figs. 2 and 5,there is a U-shaped stop member 27 having one long leg 28 secured to theface of the gear and a short leg 29 terminating short of'said face.Disposed also on the face of the gear 18 and offset angularly a shortdistance from the leg 29 of the stop 27 is a stop 30 terminating shortof the inner end of the leg 29. TheA spring arm 22 has an extension 31which is adapted to be projected into the path of the stops 29 and 30 aswill be more fully hereinafter described.

Positioned adjacent the shutter is an adjustable diaphragm 32 which ispreferably an improved form of the iris type of diaphragm having aplurality of overlapping leaves 33 which are simultaneously movable vtovary the size ofthe diaphragm opening. As shown this diaphragm comprisesa base plate 34 having a series of circularly larvranged. pins 35secured therein and disposed parallel to the base plate and supported aextends into one of the slots 38. The plate 36 may be held in spacedrelationship with thebase plate by integral curved projecting guides 40on the base plate which' engage the edges of the latter, the guideshaving `shoulders 41 extending under the edges of the plate so as-togive the plates the required spacing. It will thus be seen that anymovement of the plate 36 relative .to the base plate will cause thediaphragm leaves to move to` open or close the diaphragm opening. A

Asshovvn in Figs. 6 and 7 lugs 42 are provided on the periphery of themovable plate 36 and connections extend through slots 43 in thebaseplate to communicate with operating mechanism comprising a ring 44surroundin the barrel of lens member 3 and a radial y projecting arm 45se'- cured thereto. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

a second radial arm 46 is operatively condication of the diaphragmopening. A coil I spring 52 is connected to the arm 46 Jand is tensionedto urge the diaphragm toward closed position. j

In order to prevent the passage of light into the camera as the slit inthe shutter pass- 'es the diaphragm in its setting movement, connectingmeans are provided to close the diaphragm as the shutter is being setand to open the same When the slit has passed the diaphragm opening.This connection 'comf prises a drum 53 loosely mounted Ito rotate and toslide longitudinally on the roller 7 and having serrations 54 on oneside thereof Which are adapted to engage similar serra-` tions 55 on acollar 56 also mounted on the roller 7. The drum 53 is connected to thediaphragm arm 46 by means .of a flexible; member 53 connected at one endto the arm andV short distance therefrom so, as to provide adapt-ed toWind upon the drum as the latter 130 is rotated-with the roller-7. Thecenar 5c frictionally engages roller 7 so as to rotate therewith but isadapted to slip thereon if v arrow,

the resistance exerted on the drum exceeds a certain maximum. A collar57 is slidably mounted on the roller '7 having a pro'ecting arm 58thereon and being urged y coil spring 59 to engage the drum 53 and tomove the latter. toward collar 56. Pivotally mounted adjacent the arm 58is a lever 60 having a laterally projecting arm 61 which is adapted toengage the arm 58. The upper end of said lever hasa pin 62 lying inthepath of movement of a cross piece 63 which is secured in position on thecurtain, the lower end of the lever being connected by link 64 to asimilar pivoted lever 65 positioned near the roller 8 and having a pin66 lying in the path of movement of the cross-piece 63'. As shown thecross-piece may extend across the curtain andbe provided with anextension 63 which engages the partition 1*? to guide the shutter in itsmovement.

The operation of the device is a follows: Assuming the parts in theposition as shown in Fig. 2, the operator turns thenurled winding head19 to the left as indicated the which movement, through gears 17 and 18,causes the roller 7 to turn to the right to wind thecurtain thereonagainst the tension of the spring pressed roller 8, the spring pressedpawl 21 riding over the inclined teeth 20 on the gear 18 and holding thecurtain in adjusted position. The drum 53 being in engagement with thecollar 56 is caused to rotate with the latter, winding the flexiblemember 53 thereon and closing the diaphragm by movement of the arm 46.It will be noted that the diameter of the drum 53 is considerablygreater than that of the roller 7 so the flexible connection 53 is movedmuch more rapidly than the curtain,

the consequence being that the diaphragm before the slit 6 in thecurtain is ,moved adjacent thereto. The diaphragm kbeing tightly closedby this means the slit passes by the same without the pas- .sage of anylight rays to the interior of the camera. After the diaphragm has beencompletely closed bythe operation just described, the roller 7'ispermitted to continue its movement by reason of the fact that the collar56,

I frictionally engaging said roller, slips thereon as the tension of theflexible member 53 increases when the diaphragm reaches closed position,the drum then remaining stationary until the shutter reachesapproximately full set position. When the shutter nears the end of itssetting movement the cross-piece 63 contacts with the pin 62pV on the'lever 60 moving the latter to slide the collar 57, through cooperatingparts 61 and 58, against the resistance of the spring 59 disengaging theserrations on the drum with those on the collar, as particularly shownin'Fig. 4.

' spring roller The collar 57 and lever 60 are locked in this positiondueto the fact that the line of stress of the spring 59 is exertedthrough the arms 58, 61 and the pivotal point of lever 60, there beingtherefore practically no tendencyv to rotate said lever in eitherdirection. The diphragm is then moved toward open position under theinfluence of the spring 52 until the arm 45 engages the stop 48 to limititsV opening movement.

The shutter is now in position to make an exposure. If it is desired tomake an instantaneous exposure the sliding spring arm 22 is allowed toremain in the position shown in Fig. 2 while the pin 26 is pressed torelease the pawl 21 from the teeth 20 whereupon reaches the extremeposition after exposure .l

the cross-piece 63 contacts with the pin 66 moving lever 65 to trip thelever 66 thereby allowing the collar 57 to move under the influence ofthe spring 59 to re-engage the drum with the collar 56.

If it is desired to make a bulb exposure, that is, to open the shutterwhen the lpin.26 is pressed and to close the same when pressureisreleased, the spring arm 22 is projected longitudinally by means ofsliding pin 25 until it registers with the symbol. B of the scale shownin Figs. 1 and 5. The projection 31 on the spring arm is thus moved intothe path of the stop 29, and as the curtain unwmds from the roller 7,the releasing pin and spring arm being pressed inwardly,

.said stop engages said projection arresting displacement of stop30'with respect to stop 29. The shutter is thus held lin open posi,-tion until the arm is again pressed inwardly to disengae the projectionthereof with stop 30 w ereupon the shutter lmoves to closed positionunder the influence of Athe 8. The speed of movement of the curtain iseasily varied by adjusting the sprin tension of roller 8 by means of thenurle head 10.

As Amany changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently stop 29, .the curtain continues its `movement, and theexposure is thus completwidely `diierent embodiments of this inventioncould be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanylng drawings shall v be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the followingclaims is intended to cover all of the generic and speoific features ofthe invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of theinvention which, as a matter of language,

mi ht be said to fall therebetween.

vrality of elements, a curtain shutter disposed between adjacentelements of said lens, means for setting said shutter, a diaphragmadjacent to said shutter, and means for automatically closing saiddiaphragm when said shutter is being set. v

3. In combination, a lens having a -plurality of elements, a curtainshutter disposed between adjacent elements of said lens, means forsetting said shutter, a diaphragm adjacent to said shutter, and meansfor auto-v matically closing said diaphragm when said.

shutter is being opening the same.

4. In combination, a curtain shutter, means for settingrsaid shutter, adiaphragm adjacent said shutter, and means. for automatically closingsaid diaphragm when said shutter is being set.

5. In an optical instrument, in Acombination, a curtain shutter having aslit therein,

set and for subsequently ymeans for setting said shutter, automaticvmeans controlled by said setting means to shut off light from theshutter when the latter is being set, and independent means forcontrolling said automatic means 'to' vary the amount of light admittedby said shutter.

6. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter, means forA settingsaid shutter, a diaphragm adjacent said shutter, means including aclutch for automatically closing said diaphragm when said shutter isbeing set, and means for releasing said clutch to permit said diaphragmto open.

In a camera, in combination', a curtain l shutter, means for settingsaid shutter, a diaadjusting t phragm adjlacent said shutter, means for'e aperture in said diaphragm,

and means for automatically closing said diaphragm when said shutter isbeing set.

8. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter, means for settingsaid shutter, a diaphragm adjacent said shutter, means for adjustingtheaperture insaid diaphragm, and means for automatically closing saiddia phra m when said shutter is being closed and for subsequentlyreturning the same to adjusted position. j, 'v

9. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter wound at one end on aspring pressed roller and at the otherV end on a second roller, meansfor winding said shutter to set position onto said second roller againstthe tension of said spring pressed roller, said means including atoothed rotary member, stops on said member, and a pawl engaging saidteeth to hold the curtain in set position and cooperating with saidstops to determine the character of exposure.

10. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, setting and releasing meansfor said shutter, said means including an langularly movable element, aplurality of stops on said element, a member adapted to hold saidshutter in set position, and means whereby said member is adapted toengage one or more of said stops to vary the character `of exposure.

11. In a camera, in combination, a shutter,

setting and releasing means for said shutter, yj said means includinglan angularly movable element, a substantiall U-shaped stop on saidelement, and a bodily movable member adapted' to engage said stop tocontrol the character of exposure.

12. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, setting and releasing meansfor said shutter, said means including an angularly movable element, aplurality of stops on said element, one being substantially U-shaped,and adjustable means for engaging said U-shaped stop to provide onecharacter of exposure,

- and another of said stops to provide another character of exposure.

13. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, setting and releasing meansfor said shutter, said means including anl angularly movable element, aplurality of stops on said element, one being substantially ULSliaped,and adjustable means for en aging said U-shaped sto -to rovide one caracter o exposure, an anot er of said stops to provide anothercharacter of exposure, said adjustable means being adapted to engagesaid angularly movable element to vhold the shutter in set position. y

14. In a camera, in combination, a. shutter, y

setting and releasing means for said shutter, said means including anangularly movable element, a plurality of stops on said element, onebeing substantially U-shaped, and adjustable means for engaging saidU-shaped sto) to` pl'rovide one'character of exposure, an anot er ofsaid stops to provide another original position. j

character of exposure,`said adjustable means comprising a spring pressedpawl which is adapted to engage teeth on said angularly. movable elementto holdthe shutter in said position.

15. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a roller lfor saidshutter, means for moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, and a connection between said roller and said diaphragm toclose, the latter when the shutter is being set. j

16. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a, roller for said shutter, means for moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, a connection between said roller and said diaphragm to closethe latter when the shutter is being set, and automatic means forrestoring said diaphragm to original position.

17 .1 In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a roller for said shutter, means for moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, a connection between said roller and said diaphragm to closethe latter when the shutter is being set, and automatic means controlledbv the setting movement of said shutter for restoring said diaphragm tooriginal positionf'.

18. In a camera, 1n combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a roller for said shutter, means for moving Said roller.` toset the shutter and for holding the samey there, a diaphragm adjacentsaid shutter,

and means for closing said diaphragm when said shutter is being moved toset position, a small movement of said shutter being accompanied by arelatively large movement of said diaphragm.

19. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a roller for said shutter, means for moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, means for closing said diaphragm when said shutter is beingmoved to set position, a small movement of said shutter beingaccompanied by a relatively large movement of said diaphragm forpermitting the shutter to continue its setting movement after saiddiaphragm is closed, and automatic means controlled by the settingmovement of said shutter for restoring said` diaphragm to 20. In acamera, in combination, a curtain yshutter having a sht thereln, a.yroller for ,said shutter, means for movin said roller` /to set theshutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, and a lost motion connection between said roller and saiddiaphragm. i

2L In a @amara in combination, a curtain shutter having a .slit therein,a roller for said shutter, means for moving said roller to set theshutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, a lost motion connection between said roller and saiddiaphragm, and automatic means for restoringsaid diaphragm to originalpostion after having been operated through saidl connection.

, 22. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a roller for said shutter, means for moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there, a diaphra m adjacent saidshutter, a d rum on said ro ler, a collar adjacent said drum adapted toengage and drive thesame, and a connection between said drum and saiddiaphragm.

23. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having an openingtherein, a roller for said shutter, means for moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, a drum on said roller, a Acollar adjacent said drum adapted toengage and drive the same, a connection between said drum and saiddiaphragm, and resilient means for holding said drum in engagement withsaid collar.

24. In a camera, in combination, a curtain l drum on said roller, acollar adjacent said y drum adapted to engage and drive the same, aconnection between said drum and said diaphragm, and means operated bysaid shutter for rendering said last mentioned means ineffective.

25. In a camera, in combination, a curtain shutter having a slittherein, a roller for said shutter, means for'moving said roller to setthe shutter and for holding the same there,.a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, and a yielding connection between said rolle1' and saiddiaphragm.

26. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, a diaphragm adjacentsaidshutter, lost motion connections between said shutter and said diaphragmfor operating the latter in one direction, and means operativelyassociated with said shutter for operating said diaphragm in anotherdirection.-

27. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter,'.means yconnected to .said shutter for closing said point inthe movement,y of said shutter whereby said diaphragm is permitted tomove toward open position under the iniuenoe of its bias.

29. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, a diaphragm adjacent saidshutter, means including a clutch connected to said shutter for closingsaid diaphragm, and meansv i including a clutch connected to -saidshutter for closingsaid diaphragm, means dependent upon the movement ofthe shutter whereby said clutch is released to permit said diaphragm tomove toward open position, and means for restoring said clutch to normalcondition upon completion of an exposure. i

32. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, ardiaphragm, means forclosing said diaphragm while` said shutter is being set,

means Jfor rendering said first mentioned means meectlve as said shutternears vset position, and means for restoring said iirst means to normalcondition upon completion of an exposure.

38. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, la diaphragm, a memberoperatively connected to said shutter, a member yieldingly held indriven engagement with said first mentioned member and connected to saiddiaphragm whereby the latter is closed when said shutter is moved towardset position, means normally urging said diaphragm toward open position,and means whereby said members are disengaged as the shutter nears setposition and said diaphra movedv toward open position under the1nfivuence of said first mentioned means.

34. In a camera, in combination, a shutter, a diaphragm, a memberoperativel connected to said shutter, amember yieldingly held in drivenengagement with sald first member and connected to said diaphra thelatter is closed when sai shutter is moved toward set position, meansnormally urging said diaphragm toward open position, means whereby saidmembers are disengaged as the shutter nea-rs set position and saiddiaphragm moved toward open position under the influence of said firstmentioned means, and means to re-engage said members upon` completion ofan exposure.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

HOWARD A.. ITESIDE.

Witnesses:

C. W. WEEKS, M. A. CAsKIN.

whereby

